Louisiana Field Seminar with the Williams College-Mystic Seaport Maritime Studies Program April 1-5, 2019
The Williams College-Mystic Seaport Maritime Studies program is an interdisciplinary undergraduate semester run by Williams College and based at Mystic Seaport Museum, America's premier maritime history museum. Students take courses in Marine Biology, Maritime History, Oceanography, Literature of the Sea, and Maritime Policy. The extraordinary collections, documents, and historic ships and buildings at Mystic Seaport serve as their waterfront campus, but they also venture out on several field seminars: two weeks at sea aboard a traditional sailing research vessel, and trips to the Pacific Coast and Louisiana.

For several years I've been asked along on the Louisiana field seminar to serve as a "cultural liason," introducing students to Cajun music and dance, meeting (and dancing to the music of) traditional Cajun musicians, and giving a lecture on the history of Louisiana's rich musical culture. Louisiana offers a unique chance to look at the dynamic and complex intersections of geography, environment, resources, culture, policy, and history, and the rich musical tapestry there reflects this background. If you know any college students who are looking for an interesting, challenging and varied experience in a "semester abroad," have them take a look at this cutting-edge interdisciplinary program. It changes people's lives: 
https://mystic.williams.edu/

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